Now that the major decision regarding David Beckham's presence on the Great Britian Olympic men’s soccer team has been made, comes the countdown to a really big decision
facing the Los Angeles Galaxy, to wit:

If Beckham is picked for a ceremonial duty, such as lighting the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremonies, does Galaxy coach Bruce
Arena give him some time off?

According to Ladbrokes, a British betting company that really does calculate prices and take bets for these things, Beckham is a 5-1 choice to light
the flame at the Olympic Stadium, not far from where he grew up in East London. Now comes the thorny problem: if such a request is made to the Galaxy, what does the team decide to do?

Remember he's done a lot of legwork promoting the Games. He had accompanied the Olympic Flame from Athens to Britain and carried it after it was lit. Also remember AEG, operator-investor of the
Galaxy, had been discussing a partnership by which it and Tottenham would use the Olympic Stadium after the Games, and that AEG’s purchase of the Millennium Dome in London a decade ago turned a
national embarrassment into a lucrative enterprise.

If he can duck out of town for a royal wedding, as he did last year to see Prince William and Kate
Middleton exchange vows and adoring looks, and still make it to Dallas in time for a game, why not again?

The soccer competition kicks off July 25, two days before the Opening
Ceremonies, which fall on a Friday, a day before the Galaxy plays a road game at FC Dallas. FCD will surely want Beckham present to further the hopes of a sellout, though its dismal form so far this
season may be too much even for Becks to overcome. Officials of recently signed jersey sponsor AdvoCare could also weigh in.

Ironically, the chances of him being released could be enhanced
by the U.S. failure to qualify, which would have taken Landon Donovan away for at least several weeks to attend a preparation game as well as the actual tournament. Donovan has no
conflicts for the Dallas game and so the Galaxy wouldn’t be without two of its Designated Players, only Beckham.

Of course, he and the Galaxy and MLS would be blasted in some quarters
for putting exposure and publicity ahead of competitive concerns, but that’s nothing new. Since coming to MLS 5 ½ years ago, his allure and fame have increased awareness of the league
exponentially. The lighting of the Olympic cauldron is one of the most iconic moments in sports that is viewed live by hundreds of millions of people around the world, and regenerated countless times
in myriad visual mediums.

The royal wedding, though, fell during a more convenient slot in the Galaxy schedule. This year the timing will be tighter.

FCD hosts the Galaxy on a
Saturday night rather than the Sunday afternoon of affair last year, significantly squeezing the available hours to get from London to Dallas. He won’t want to disappoint his country, and the
easiest solution would be for the Galaxy to excuse him for this game so as to appease him and Sebastian Coe, the former middle-distance runner -- and four-time Olympic medalist -- who
is chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

“David has been an extraordinary supporter, probably our No. 1 supporter, of the Games from the very beginning
and is keen to continue his enthusiastic support right to the end,” said Coe.

“He really gets this. He is from East London and knows how important the Games and sport are to
young people. He is a great role model and we are lucky to have such an advocate. I will be talking to him about a Games time role.”

Beckham apparently lost out to former Manchester
United teammate Ryan Giggs, as well as Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards, for an over-age slot on the Great Britain team. His age, 37, and declining
abilities surely played a role in a decision made for competitive reasons by Coach Stuart Pearce, who can only select 18 players including the three age exemptions.

So now
Beckham and the Galaxy and the Olympic organizers are in a tricky spot, juggling marketing concerns with those of his soccer team. Is he the best choice, and if chosen, how should the league and his
team handle it?

Why would Beckham begin worrying about what's good for the team or MLS now? His five years to date have hardly reflected devotion to the Galaxy. He shows up when he choses.

Aris Protopapadakis

commented on: June 29, 2012 at 3:21 p.m.

Not Becks again. He is a less-than-ordinary player who somehow seems to think he is entitled to be selected to the UK Olympic team. Why is he entitled?
And of course the Galaxy will let him go to the Olympic ceremonies if he is selected to particulate int he torch-lighting, and even if he isn't. I am a little surprised he didn't take time off to go to Wimbleton...

Sukh Johal

commented on: June 29, 2012 at 5:27 p.m.

If Beckham is picked to light the torch, absolutely he should go. Simply for the marketing of soccer and the potential ripple effects it could have for the MLS. LA Galaxy can afford to lose him for one game for the potential gain for American soccer. This should be a no-brainer for MLS, Garber, and the Galaxy.